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How many months have you been investing in your business to see no results?

Here’s the interesting thing I’ve learned from being in business and coaching other small businesses to grow.

All the marketing and sales strategies work… in their own time.

Chances are that you have worked hard and doing the ‘right’ things to grow your business. You just have focused on the big sexy strategies that bring in business in the long-term, but have you hearing crickets in the short-term.

If that’s you, know this – you aren’t alone. In fact 85% of the businesses I work with are doing the same. If they can change things around and see results in the next 90 days – you can too. Here are the top 10 ways you can grow a business easily and quickly.

2. Be more active in your marketing. If you wait for your phone to ring, you need to do more marketing that boosts your “Know, Like & Trust Factor”. The fastest way is through being were your clients are and talking to them. If you need to grow your business, don’t wait for business to come to you!

3. Build Out Your Circle of Influence. Have you ever played the game ’6 degrees of Kevin Bacon’? Think of the people who through the course of their work touch your ideal client. Seek out partnerships and alliances with those businesses who best represent how you like to do business. Developing relationships with a few key people is a quick path to cash

4. Ask Your Clients To Buy Again. It’s easy to focus on getting new clients and new projects in the door, but your existing clients are more profitable. Reach out to any previous client who hasn’t purchased in the last 6 months or a year. Let them know how valuable they have been to you and see if there is anything you can do for them now.

5. Ask Your Clients For Referrals. If you love your clients, then you’ll probably love their referrals. Always be asking for referrals as a course of business, but even if the client you just called in #4 doesn’t have work for you, Then ask, “Who do you know who… ?”

6. Raise Your Price. I know this seems simple, but most people don’t adjust their pricing in accordance to their costs. I had a client who lost 20% in gross profits because she unknowingly she had undercharged. The change in her business puts $100,000 to her bottom line. I know this is a sensitive area, but know most buyers won’t even register a 10% increase in price.

7. Re-evaluate Your Profitability Priorities. It’s easy to say yes to subscriptions and little extras in your business – but you could be nickel and diming yourself to death. Cancel any unused subscription no matter how good of an idea it might be, trim back on the nice-to-have expenses and create cash to put into the growth of your business.

8. Stop Being Busy, Start Being Effective. Take a good hard look at what you do with your day. The top three things an entrepreneur or small business owner needs to do is 1.) Find The Money, 2.) Sell The Money & 3.) Serve The Money. How much green is in your calendar? If it isn’t a revenue generating task – dump it or delegate it.

9. Stop Doing It By Yourself. Gone are the days when small businesses can be successful in a silo, You get no trophy for doing it on your own. Invest in people who want to invest in you through accountability partners, masterminds or coaching. You will leap-frog your competition when you stand on the shoulders of giants.

10. Don’t Make It Harder. Simplicity and ease is what wins in business. If it sounds to hard, it probably is – especially if you are doing it alone. It’s better to keep things simple when putting together a growth plan for your business. Doing small things every day add up to a big result in the end. The easier things are, the easier they are to be consistent and sustainable. Most businesses stall out because they can’t sustain their efforts – don’t be one of them.

There are several Web Host giants on the internet that provide private label rebranding to small business owners. This might be the best opportunity to “piggyback” on well-established businesses if you are just starting out in internet marketing. This gateway for unlimited wealth is made possible due to the growing demand of digital marketing in regions that are outside the scope of these large corporations.

In order to gain a share of the market, these corporate web companies offer reseller plans to small businesses which take their products and services, rebrand them and sell to business owners at a profit. These products include domain name services, web hosting, online storage, business productivity software, and tools.

There is quite an advantage in being a small business retailer because one is able to customize their business at the local level and meet the demands of their growing market on the World Wide Web. Let’s look at the definition of digital marketing to understand why the demand has grown significantly over the past decades.

What Is Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing involves all functions that are geared toward promoting online business activities. This includes but is not restricted to products and services in subcategories such as Domain Name registration, web hosting, email marketing, web design and development, software applications, sales and marketing, social media marketing and consultation, and all medium through which businesses and individuals advertise and market their products online.

Retail Marketing

Retail Marketing refers to activities geared toward end users of a web-based business solution such as domain names registration, web design services, software apps for business and personal use, social media management, web hosting and other activities that promote online communication.

As the need for business solutions intensifies, business persons become increasingly concerned about meeting the demands of the online industry, and therefore the Pros and Cons of the internet business become relevant.

The Cons of Digital Marketing

One would think that the more customers you have, is the more profits you are likely to acquire but the truth be told, the more the business will become more challenged due to competitors, need for online bandwidth, web creativity, uniqueness, and need for customer service due to increase in customer queries and the need for technical support.

The Pros of Digital Marketing

Fortunately, some web hosting reseller business plan come with independent customer service team that manages concerns and queries of clients on their behalf. Another positive thing about being a domain reseller is the handling of payments and processing of sales. As a web hosting reseller, you are given the opportunity to re-price your products to earn commissions from your own business.

Another pro for being a reseller is the fact that starting your digital marketing business does not require an exorbitant startup cost nor high overhead expenses to operate effectively, nor initial products, compared to other online ventures. Products are sold through the distributors but your private label is displayed discreetly in the sales operation and therefore your business receives the credit!

How Do I Become A Web Hosting Reseller?

There are two ways to become a Web Hosting Reseller and Domain Name Registrar. One can sign up as an affiliate or an actual reseller.

An affiliate gets a commission from advertising online products that the Web company (suppliers) market, using links and codes on approved websites.

Reseller uses their own brand to market the Web Company’s products (supplier) and services at a higher rate of returns. End users see the reseller’s products and services as their company’s brand and not the Web Company’s image.

Affiliates display the name of the wholesaler or provider (Web Company) through banner advertisements and other forms of internet marketing, similar to a franchising arrangement.

How Much Does It Cost To Run A Web Hosting and Domain Name Business?

It is very alarming to find out the actual cost of starting your own internet business. The subscription for a reseller license varies from $89-$499 annually and it depends on the provider or web company. Most persons prefer to do business with Web companies that offer a variety of affordable products and services. Once a business plan is purchased, one can start selling immediately online.

Some Web companies provide a retail storefront with the domain name search field. Other features include the following:

Dedicated customer service team support for your clients
Marketing software to assist in promoting their brand online. Resellers are expected to purchase their domain name to start promoting their retail internet business.

Start Up Cost

There is no mandatory startup cost for a Web Hosting Business, however, it is suggested to start with at least $300-$500. This would include the cost of the subscription plan, a domain name for your business idea, a web designer to customize the storefront (optional), business cards and other marketing paraphernalia to help provide greater access to your target market.

There is reseller’s support, community pages, manuals and online support to help you succeed in making your business profitable.

The process of starting an internet business is simple, and while there could be challenges in securing a viable market in your region, there are no geographical restrictions. Savvy business operators stand a greater chance to earn real attractive residual income annually, in a relatively short time.

What To Expect as a Web Hosting Reseller

Business owners are able to tap into the tremendous wealth of the digital marketing business industry as it is one that never sleeps! It has often been said that you can earn money while you sleep, and since the internet generates over a billion dollars per day, more and more persons have experienced this reality. Currently, there are Web Hosting Resellers who are making $10-30K (USD) per month.

Once you are patient, open to exploring online business opportunities, and enthusiastic about providing internet business solutions for individuals and companies, then you are ready to build your digital empire.

Running a small business is as challenging as trekking to Mt. Everest without having oxygen cylinder, prior practice, and a valid map guide. The challenges are only because there are no authentic rules that can lead a small business towards success while other major obstacles comprise: low budget, limited manpower, and lack of efficient resources. But as a small business owner, you must delve into the passcodes that help you decode the secret patterns of operating a successful startup or small business. It not only helps you to sustain your current growth but also excel your business planning’s to achieve higher objectives. There are a few suggestions based on real-world experiences, which can assist you to hit the bull’s eye.

1- Utilize the power of social media:

Nowadays, the entire world revolves around social media and if you are able to use its full potential, it can immediately help you increase your sales and brand reputation with very minimum resource and effort. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, help you connect with a large scale of users, where you can directly interact with them, thereby allowing you to convert them into your potential clients. It forms a two-way channel that not only allows you to put your message across but also, listen to what your targeted audience want, which eventually goes a long way in improving and growing your business.

2- Research and analyze your competition:

A business turns to be successful only if it runs on some finely grinned facts and figures. And competition analysis is one of the most important elements of the process. Competition analysis tells you the strength you will require to establish your brand in the market as well as it helps to prepare your business planning adequately so that you could avoid the chances of business failure. An additional benefit of competition research is it allows for designing and developing more feasible and user-oriented products that eventually help you attain a competitive edge over the current market.

3- Work as per your plan but be flexible too:

Efficient planning is a roadmap that drives your business to the top in the long run with predefined routes. It is always advised to stick with our planning even if we face a few hurdles while running our business given that the strategies are designed after in-depth analysis. And day-to-day challenges should not incline you to alter with whatever you planned. The winners always back their business plannings regardless of the stiff challenges, but on the other side, a successful business requires the owner to be flexible enough to embrace new changes. Adapting the new ideas and concepts not only makes a business owner take smart decisions but also, keeps their core planning intact and fresh.

4- Use informative materials to build trust and loyalty:

The Internet is the best medium to reach out to the huge audience with less effort, but you should keep the fact in mind that there is already a heavy flow of advertisements and endorsements all over the web. So, what can be an efficient way to create our presence with a significant impact?

There are definitely some better ways to do it like using informative online materials such as well-written blogs, well-designed infographics, animated videos demonstrating some set of skills, and presentation sheets, etc. Following such practices will attract a huge mass to our platform to learn and engage with us, which gives a sense of trust and ultimately convert them into our long-term clients.

5- Hire your weaknesses:

A small business consists of a team of limited dedicated professionals, having different skill sets of all the corners to tackle most of the business requirements. Small businesses, sometimes, compromise in some crucial areas since they can’t hire specific individuals due to the lack of budget. To get your business positioned to the top, please don’t bear with your inefficient area. Rush into hiring experienced professional(s) so that all parts of your business fire with the same intensity.

6- Be ready for mergers and acquisitions:

Even after working with your full potential, you may not generate enough force to compete with the leading competitors. Other small businesses with the same concept may face the same situations. Just find them and join in the talks to check the possibilities of the merger to form a combined force, which can provide the required pace and power to achieve the common business goals. Mergers have a long, rich history of producing successful businesses, so don’t shy away with it. Similarly, business acquisitions are a noble idea to inject more strength to our business if budget allows us to do so.

7- Keep the quality service always on:

Quality service is the most important source that keeps your client for a longer period of time and it spreads huge positive feedbacks in the mass, driving in a large number of new clients. There have been more than just a few businesses reaching to the top just on the base of excellent service and even without spending a bomb on advertisements and business promotions. While there are other businesses which have failed miserably because of giving no importance to the quality of the services they provided. All in all, having the sound quality of the products/services is the key to succeeding in today’s cut throat competition.

8- Don’t give up:

Running a successful business is not a child’s play since it requires a lot of guts, courage, and risk-taking capabilities. It, sometimes, shakes your ambitions when going through some rough patches, and you need to have the burning desires within you to keep it alive. Keeping patience is also an important character that the small business owner must have, as the formation of a business and climb the ladder of success, demands to wait for long period of time. So, as a business owner, you need to instill never give up attitude to see your dreams come true!!

Summing it up, though the above-mentioned points are not entirely foolproof but yes, following these points will definitely help you to become a smart small business owner who can defy all the challenges and get on the top of the competition. Of Course, the chances of success or failure of your business completely depends on your planning and execution.

A business plan is a document that indicates what one intends doing, how and when. This document outlines in great details, how a particular business activity is to be carried out. It gives a perfect picture of the things needed for the work, the skills to be employed, the time span to be covered, the capital needed for the productions and even how to market the finished product. In fact, it gives the total outlook of a business activity.

A business plan has several purposes. It serves as a guide in controlling the direction of an enterprise. The business plan dictates the activities of a business. It is the boss who makes the decisions as to how to do it, how much to spend, the section of the large market to target etc. It single handedly guides the affairs of a business.

Moreover, it helps in monitoring and evaluating the progress of the business. It plays a supervisory role for any business venture. It meticulously and regularly monitors the progress of a business while evaluating it to see if the set goals and objectives of the business are being achieved. When a business is declining or advancing in terms of productivity or sales it is the business plan that points it out.

In addition, it serves as a collateral or security to seek a loan or financial assistance. It acts as a security when seeking for a loan at a financial institution. It is a guarantee for assistance from corporate bodies and banks.

Several factors must be considered when preparing a business plan. Some of these have been outlined below.

I. Executive summary- This refers to the profile of the members of the executive body of the company. It is not a detailed account of each of them but a summary.

ii. Name and address of business or enterprise- The business plan must contain the full name of the business as well as the residential and postal address of the enterprise.

iii. Identification of a need to satisfy- The enterprise should identify a special need that should be satisfied. This should be explicitly indicated in the business plan.

iv. Establish what you want to achieve or do- The set out goals and objectives of the enterprise should be enshrined in the drawn business plan.

v. Find out or research from past solution to similar problems- Solutions or remedies to past problems encountered by the enterprise should be written in the business plan. The measures taken by the enterprise should be noted in the business plan.

vi. Analyze the industry or market where you can operate e.g. potential customers, competitors, etc.- A good business plan should include analysis of the target group, likely buyers of the product and potential competitors of the same product especially those in the same business location. This would help the enterprise to determine best strategies in winning customers and competing effectively with competitors.

vii. Pick the best solution -The best solution that can proficiently address the situation(s) in vi. above is selected and written down.

viii. Describe the enterprise or business (product, services, background of the entrepreneur) – The full description of the enterprise and its activities should be vividly given. This entails the products and services offered by the enterprise as well as some vital information about the entrepreneur who is manning the enterprise.

ix. Describe production activity e.g. designing and making process, machines, sources of raw materials, location of enterprise etc.- The entire production processes through which the final product or service gets to the customer are fully described. This includes the source of raw materials for the production, the actual production and the machinery or tools that assists in the manufacture of the products and/or services.

x. Marketing activities e.g. customers, pricing, distribution, promotion, advertising, etc.- The marketing and pricing strategies adopted to be used by the enterprise should be stated in the business plan. The various vents for distribution, promotions and forms of advertisement decided by the enterprise must be clearly spelt out in the business plan.

xi. Organization e.g. background of managers and their duties, etc.- The organizational structure or plan of the business thus, the chain of top executives or managers and their assigned duties should be discussed in the business plan.

xii. Financial plan e.g. capital requirement, potential profits, cash flow and sources of funds- A good business plan should have a clear financial plan with details regarding the business capital, expected profits, the day-to-day flow of cash and the sources of funds for the business. This must be explained in simple and straightforward language.

If all these factors are well covered in one’s business plan, it would be very efficient in helping the enterprise to grow and not to incur great losses but rather compounded profits.